Apply online - late applications and changes of preferences

The closing date for secondary school applications was 11:59pm on 31 October 2024. Late applications opened on 1 November 2024.

All applications are now regarded as late, regardless of the circumstances.

Applications received after the statutory closing date (31 October 2024) for secondary school transfers will only be considered after applications received on time have been processed. Late applications will be processed after 3 March 2025.

Late applicants are less likely to get a place at one of their preferred schools for their child as most schools in Birmingham fill to their published admissions numbers with on time applicants that met their admissions criteria.

Remember to list six different secondary schools.

If your child attends any of the following all through schools in Year 6, do not list the school as one of your six preferences. Your child will automatically move up from Year 6 to Year 7 in September 2025 and listing the school as a preference will waste one of your preferences.

  • Ark Kings Academy
  • Ark Victoria Academy
  • Bournville School
  • King Solomon International Business School
  • Washwood Heath Academy
  • Waverley School

Important: ensure you include details of any siblings attending your preferred school(s) in the field (box) provided for sibling details. Sibling details included in the wrong field (box), such as reasons for preference will not be counted and may prevent you from gaining a place at your preferred school. If you fill in the online application incorrectly, you are liable for not completing the form correctly, not School Admissions and Fair Access Service.

List six secondary schools in order of preference.

Important: make sure you have read the admission arrangements fully for the schools you are interested in and know how likely it is that your child will be offered a place there. It is important that you include at least one realistic preference for a school that your child would have met the criteria for in previous years.

If you have included preferences for any schools that require you to complete a supplementary information form or include social and medical needs in the criteria and require you to send evidence, you must send the supplementary information form and/or any required supporting medical evidence directly to the school. Failure to do this may mean that your child’s application is assessed by the school under a lower criterion, and they may not be offered a place.

Do not use this form if your child has an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP). For children with an EHCP, visit the SENAR Local Offer website.

Guidance for submitting your online application

Read the guidance below before submitting your online application.

Download Parent’s guidance to submit online application, change of preferences and password resets

Late application - apply online


Important information about changing your preferences

You may have a maximum of 6 active preferences at a time. If you want to change your preferences, please think carefully about your new choices. Be sure to include any preferences you want to keep (which must be included again in the new set of preferences submitted) and remove any you no longer want.

You will receive an email confirmation that you have submitted your application form. Check your spam or junk folder. It is important that you check your confirmation email to make sure everything is correct.

If you update your preferences, remember to re-submit your application form. Without re-submitting, your application won’t be processed.

We will consider your final submission as your official application. You can change your preferences until 31 October 2024.

Late changes of preference

Late changes of preference occur when parents or carers submit an application and later adjust the order of their preferences. This may include any changes made after 31 October 2024. Late changes will be processed after 3 March 2025.

Late changes of preference are less likely to secure a place at one of your preferred schools, as most schools in Birmingham fill their places with on-time applicants who meet their criteria. When your late application is processed, we will offer you a place at one of your chosen schools if possible. If not, your child will be added to the relevant waiting lists (for Birmingham grammar schools, your child must have a qualifying score of 205 to be added to their waiting list).

We strongly recommend that you do not refuse the school originally offered to your child. If you decline this place, there is no guarantee of a place at one of your new preferences from the waiting list or through the appeals process, and your child may be without a school place in September.

Important information about changing your preferences

You can have a maximum of six active preferences at a time. If you want to change your preferences, we recommend carefully choosing your new set. Be sure to include any preferences you want to keep (these must be included again in the new set of preferences submitted) and remove any you no longer want.

Important: you will be removed from the waiting lists for any schools that you remove from your new set of preferences. Any appeals you have previously submitted for schools that are no longer on your list of active preferences will also be withdrawn. This includes grammar schools.

Any offer of a school place that has already been made will not be lost due to a change of preferences unless a new offer for a higher preference is made, due to places being available or due to waiting list movement.

Examples

Samantha’s family submitted the following preferences before the deadline:

  1. School A
  2. School B
  3. School C

At National Offer Day on 3 March 2025, Samantha is offered a place at School B. She is automatically placed on the waiting list for School A and her family submits an appeal for that school.

Subsequently, Samantha’s family submitted an updated set of preferences as follows:

  1. School D
  2. School E
  3. School F

Samantha will no longer be on the waiting list for school A, and her appeal will be withdrawn. Her offer for a place at School B will remain, unless she is offered a place at School D, E or F.

If Samantha’s parents would like to stay on the waiting list for School A and retain their right of appeal for that school, their new set of preferences should be:

  1. School A
  2. School D
  3. School E
  4. School F

You will receive an email confirmation that you have submitted your application form. Please ensure to check your SPAM or Junk folder. You must check your confirmation email to make sure everything is correct.

Important: if you amend your preferences, make sure to re-submit your application form; otherwise, your application will not be processed.

We will consider your final submission as the application to process.

Late applications close on 31 July 2025 at 11:59 pm. If you do not make a late application by 11:59 pm on 31 July 2025, you needed to apply directly to your preferred schools using the In-Year application form.

Other useful information

Free internet access is available at your local library

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If you require any help after reading all the information on the website, phone the Children’s Advice and Support Service on 0121 303 1888


Page last updated: 23 January 2025

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